Do you suffer from poor eyesight?
As our technology and work advances, so does the need to use digital instruments. Many businesses are migrating to digital platforms to run their operations. Studies show that the average American workers spend at least 7 hours a day in front of a computer.
Due to the pandemic, more people are spending more hours in front of their devices. Many schools turned to online conference platforms like Zoom. One of the many reasons for poor eyesight is overexposure to blue light.
However, that’s not all! In this article, we discuss what causes poor eyesight. Read on to discover the causes of poor vision and how you deal with living with low vision.
Conditions That Cause Poor Eyesight
One of the most common causes of poor eyesight or blurred vision is a refractive error. When the light can’t focus on the retina, your eye develops refractive errors. This can be myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism.
The length of your eye is one of the culprits of refractive errors. It could also depend on your corneal curvature, often linked to astigmatism. Eye length determines farsightedness, along with the lens curvature.
Here are some conditions that can cause poor eyesight.
Amblyopia
Also known as a lazy eye, this condition refers to a lack of communication between your brain and eyes. Your brain would usually receive visual signals from both eyes. However, with amblyopia, your brain will ignore signals from one eye.
You can treat amblyopia if caught early. If left alone, amblyopia can result in permanent vision loss.
Presbyopia
If you’re over the age of 40 and start experiencing blurred vision, it may be presbyopia. This is also known as age-related farsightedness. Over time, the lenses that focus on up-close images turn stiff.
This makes it difficult for your eyes to adapt, resulting in blurry near vision. Amblyopia and presbyopia are common and easy to treat.
Disease That Cause Poor Eyesight
Some diseases can cause the deterioration of your eyesight. This can range from cataracts and glaucoma to macular degeneration. Here’s a brief discussion of the diseases that can cause poor eyesight.
Cataracts
This disease occurs when proteins in your eye start building up. This creates a milky cloud over your lenses. In the beginning, your vision may seem a bit blurry or hazy.
The cloudiness over your lenses builds over your eye. Over time, this will prevent any light from reaching your retina. If left untreated, this causes vision loss.
Glaucoma
This disease refers to the pressure inside a person’s eyeball. Pressure will build in your eye when fluids don’t drain well. Soon, the pressure in your eyes will affect your optic nerves.
Another cause of glaucoma is the lack of blood flow to the optic nerve. It can be difficult to catch glaucoma in its early stages. You won’t notice any symptoms until your peripheral vision suffers from significant damage.
Macular Degeneration
Your retina’s job is to focus on images. Macular degeneration affects this part of your eyes.
Macular degeneration affects your macula, which gives your retina its sharp central vision. The macula will start deteriorating, resulting in blurred vision and blind spots.
Genetics
Poor eyesight can sometimes be genetic. Experts report that many diseases that affect older adults are genetic. Some genetic markers can help you identify eye conditions.
These include farsightedness and nearsightedness. Individuals who show these markers are ten times more likely to experience refractive errors.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Today, one of the root causes of poor eyesight is due to our digital devices. When looking at screens for an extended time, many can suffer from visual issues. Your level of discomfort rises as you continue to use digital screens.
Looking at bright computer screens forces your eyes to work harder. Letters on a handheld device are often harder to read. These small pixel texts are not precise or well-defined.
Reflections and light glare also make it difficult to view the screen. Experts developed the term called Computer Vision Syndrome. Other symptoms of CVS include dry eyes, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.
Sitting in front of a computer or laptop screen tends to affect our posture. We also tend to blink less when looking at a screen, resulting in dry eyes.
Poor Eyesight Treatments
Different vision issues may call for different treatments. Some vision problems like refractive errors can get treated with correction glasses. You can also get contact lenses or corrective SMILE eye surgery.
If you have amblyopia, you may need to wear an eye patch over your dominant eye. This allows your brain to focus on the weaker eye. Severe amblyopia may require correctional surgery.
If you have cataracts, you can treat it with cataract surgery. During the procedure, doctors replace the cloudy eye with an artificial intraocular lens. It’s a painless process that is often successful.
Unfortunately, there are no treatment options available for dry AMD. However, wet AMD has more available treatment options. Experts are currently testing new gene therapy.
The best way to reduce the risks of developing AMD is prevention. You can do this by eating a healthy diet with nutritional supplements. Regular exercise and protection from the sun will also help in preventing AMD.
With glaucoma, you have several treatment options. This includes laser treatment and medicated eye drops. You may also consider surgery to treat glaucoma.
How to Adapt to Poor Eyesight
Poor vision can make it difficult to perform daily activities. However, there are many ways that you adapt to poor eyesight.
Start by making changes in lighting. Get rid of potential hazards in your home and start using high contrast objects.
If you often work for long periods in front of a screen, consider investing in blue light glasses. You may also try using visual aids and technologies to help you travel, work, and communicate.
Avoid or Treat Poor Eyesight Now
Here are some of the main causes of poor eyesight. Causes of low vision can range from genetics to living conditions. It can affect anyone from all age groups.
However, regular checkups and a proper lifestyle will help you promote healthy eyes!
Looking for more tips on taking care of your health? Check out our other blog posts related to health and wellness and start living a better life today.
